4 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (28 June - Results & Review)

Paul Heyman rejected Solo Sikoa on SmackDown, so The Bloodline DESTROYED him.

by Jamie Kennedy
Bloodline Solo Sikoa Tama Tonga Loa Jacob Fatu Paul Heyman
WWE.com

Just call him 'Big Bumps' Paul Heyman from now on.

Jokes, but Paul did take some hefty licks on this week's episode of SmackDown. His unshaven, bloodshot-eyed appearance has become noticeable since Roman Reigns went on holiday post-WrestleMania 40, and things peaked on Friday night. Heyman knocked back the chance to acknowledge Solo Sikoa as his 'Tribal Chief' and paid the price.

Now, the table is set for Roman's grand return. Who could've thought that WWE would masterfully turn both Roman and Heyman babyface in 2024?! Triple H deserves a lot of praise for that, but Paul has shown his worth by carrying the slow burn turn sans Roman and opposite Solo's newer (seemingly even more dangerous) version of The Bloodline.

It'd be a lie to say that this week's SmackDown inside Madison Square Garden was as hot as last week's stunning episode though. That was all killer, no filler. This one definitely had some filler, and it's fair to say WWE has done the Triple Threat thing to death lately. Surely it's time to give that formatting a break!

Still, MSG got a hot start and a hot finish. Some of the matches could've been better, but even an average SmackDown is still watchable these days.

Here's all the good and bad.

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.